The boys were able to make it to Jet’s car, though they just sat, looking over the papers that their boss had given them, not but half an hour ago. “Dude. Do you know how much this’ll help Grandma and me?” Jet says as he folds up the papers, and places them on the back seat.

        Cayde nods, and looks over his a bit more before doing the same. “I’m glad you’ll be making more money when we go back after school. I know you can really use it.”

        “I’m still thinking I should take him up on his offer of working through school. I mean, it’s not like I have anything better to do with my life at the moment.” Jet takes a breath to calm himself. “I do suppose I should talk it over with her first though. I would be no help around the house.” Jet inserts the key into the ignition, and starts the car. “You wanna chill at my place or yours?”


        “If you think your Grandmother is alright with it, we can try yours.” Jet nods and starts driving back to his house. “How has she been doing, last time I saw her was the last day of school.” Cayde says softly using the seat of the car to scratch his back.


        “She’s been dealing with little more than usual.” Jet says and pulls into the Trailer Park a few minutes later, parking next to one of the nicer looking houses, and turns the car off. “Besides, why would she be alright with you coming over?  We’ve been friends forever, and I think she sees you as a good influence on me, being the Chief’s son and all.”


        “Well, I honestly think it’s you and my Dad that keep me in check.” Cayde exclaims, as he follows the leopard to the door.

        Jet opens the door and a slightly raspy, feminine voice calls from down the hall. “Jet? Are you… Oh Cayde! It’s been so long dear.” The greying snow leopard shuffles over to give the puma a deep hug, as Jet moves to sit on the couch. “How have you been? Sit. Sit.” She motions to the chairs and couch, decorated with stains of various colors and a few holes but still functional, and sits herself, as Cayde sits on the couch next to Jet.

        “It has been a bit, hasn’t it?” Cayde confirms. “School is starting up soon and work has been steady.” She just nods letting him continue. “Mom should be getting a promotion today. Dad finally caught a member of that crime group.” He pauses trying to think of the name. “The Nine Tailed Fox. I think, was their name.”

        “Oh shit, they actually got one?” Jet says, then looks over at the older leopard giving him a small scowl. “Sorry Grandma.”

        “Yea him and Felicia did, just last night actually.” Cayde says simply.

        “Well. It’s good that the very least, one less is out in the world.” Jet’s Grandmother says softly. “Hopefully the news will be more respectful of your Father’s position now.” She stands and goes to the kitchen. “They are always making them seem like the bad guys in everything.”

        “Right. Cayde and I are going  to be upstairs.” Jet says as he stands and starts to walk up the steps.

        “Nice seeing you again Mrs. Leion.” Cayde says as the elder nods and pulls out a can of soup as he follows after Jet, up the stairs, and into the leopard's small bedroom. Jet is sprawled out over his bed, without his shirt on, and just trying to relax after work. “Couldn’t wait for me?”


        Jet looks over at Cayde and chuckles. “You're free to join late if you want.” He teases patting the bed.

        “I meant for me to leave.” Cayde retorts as he closes the door, and turns the standing fan to face Jet.

        “That. Is cold.” Jet groans. “But a good cold.” He shifts a bit, and Cayde smirks shaking his head.

        “Be thankful you can do that in public.” Cayde feigns complaint, as he takes off his shirt. “Can’t let my ‘secret’ get out to the public.” He makes air quotes around the word secret.

        “Right. Your nipples show.” Jet says looking at Cayde’s face. “I still think it’s dumb that your parents still try to pretend like it’s not a thing. Like. They’re ok with the public knowing you’re quote unquote, ‘gay’. But god forbid, if he’s born with a genetic disorder that makes his reproductive system an innie, and not an outie.” Cayde looks down at the floor for a second before sitting down on the bed. “Sorry. It’s just stupid.”


        The Puma takes a deep breath, sitting on the bed. “I understand why though.”

        “If the people didn’t fucking stick there nose were it doesn’t belong, then everything would be fine and you’d be free to do as you please.” Cayde gives him a sideways glance. “Within reason, and abiding law of course.” Cayde can’t help but crack a smile, showing a bit of his fangs. “There’s that smile.” Jet says softly, smiling himself, as he sits up again. “I miss the old days, where everything was easy. You were my female, childhood friend, from across the street. That’s it, nothing more, nothing less.”

        “But I’m not a female.” Cayde says with a small sigh. “I’m not male either though.”


        “Nope you're just my best friend.” Jet says as he stands up, and changes out of his work slacks into jeans, flashing the puma briefly with his naked body.

        “Really?” Cayde exclaims, averting his eyes, lying back, and staring at the ceiling. “You go commando at work? Gross!” After a second, his face is met with the leopard’s, as Jet leans over him on the bed, almost pinning the smaller frame below. “Please tell me you're wearing pants.” Jet just smirks and doesn’t avert his gaze from the puma’s eyes. “Jet, you are kinda creeping me out.”


        “Oh come on, Cayde.” He says pulling back, and Cayde can’t help but notice a bit of pink poking out from the white fur of the leopard’s nethers as he does, causing a small blush to form, just behind his tan fur. “Live a little. Smile. Have fun. Something.” Jet finishes putting on his jeans. “I’m taking you out bowling tonight, and I’m not taking no for an answer.” The puma, almost frozen in place, doesn’t respond. “Cayde? You good?” He pauses only for a beat, but a much more obvious blush creeps onto the white fur of the leopard. “Sorry. I, uh. Got carried away there.” He says rubbing the back of his head, then extends a paw out to help Cayde up.


        “I.. It’s fine.” Cayde stutters as he grabs the helping paw, standing up, and puts on his shirt. “Just, don’t mention it.” Jet nods and throws on a shirt of his own. “Can we stop by my house, so I can change before we go?”


        “Yea. C’mon I’ll drive you.” He pauses. “If you're alright with that.” Cayde nods and the boys make their way back down stairs. “Grandma we’re going to head out for a bit.” Jet says aloud toward the back of the house.

        “Alright, Jet. Just don’t get in trouble. I don’t need you coming home with Mr. Styx again.” The older retorts, with a bit of a chuckle.


        “My Dad what?” Cayde half asks as he's ushered outside and to Jet’s car. “Hey hold up, Jet. You are not getting out of this.” Cayde states waiting outside of the car.

        Jet sighs. “Just get in, and I’ll explain it on the way to your house.” Cayde opens the door and climbs in as Jet starts driving. “A few days ago, I was out with some of our old friends from Rezzle.” Cayde tilts his head. He remembers middle school as one of the most frustrating points of his life. His body was changing, more so than others going through puberty, and it’s really the point his life turned upside down. “We just talked about the past a bit and Ray went inside the gas station, said he was going to grab a few snacks for us. After a minute we heard a gunshot and the alarm went off.” 

        “Oh my god.” Cayde gasps, eyes wide. “Was everyone OK?”


        “I’m getting to that.” Jet responds. “Ray came out with a pistol in plain view running for his car, Nicky got in her car, and Ken got in James’, then they took off. James and I were stunned by what happened, we ran inside to see the owner on the floor, out cold, and bleeding out. Thank god James was studying to go to college for medicine, cause he just took over, probably trying to stabilize the guy.” Jet pulls over to the side of the road on the opposite side of Cayde’s house. “When the ambulance arrived, so did your father and Felicia. With James’ car taken, we had no ride back home, and it was like eleven at night by this point.”

        “So my Dad offered to take you both home?” Cayde finishes, and Jet nods. “You told him everything, right? And I mean everything. Names too?”


        “Yes, Cayde I did. Can you just get changed, I don’t want to talk more about this.” Cayde nods, and gets out of the car, then heads inside. “Why’d you say anything Grandma? Why did you have to say anything?” Jet groans and leans back in his seat rubbing his face. After about fifteen minutes, something catches his eye. Two ATV’s pulled up behind the house, very slowly, with three figures covered head to toe in black. They got off and started making their way over to the house. Jet lunges into the back seat for his phone, dialing Cayde’s number. “Cmon. Cmon.” 

        “I’m almost…” Cayde didn’t have time to finish.

        “Three guys, all in black, back door, ATV’s” Jet states, his breath a bit shaky.


        “You’re serio....” Cayde’s voice stopped as the sound of a door could be heard just barely over the phone. “Is the window safe?” His voice was much quieter.

        Jet leans a bit in his car. “You're good, from your bedroom. No ones there” Jet waited for what seemed to be hours, but after a few seconds, he saw his friend’s head poke out the window on the side of the house. Cayde made his way backwards out the window, as Jet prepared to open the door. A black paw reached out and grabbed hold of the puma, holding him in the air for a second as Cayde twisted out of his shirt, and hit the ground running. “Cmon, Cayde.” He says softly just above a whisper.

        “Start it!” Cayde screams, as he drops to all fours, and sprints to the car, leaping through the window with a loud groan, colliding with the steering wheel, and dash, as well as a few hits along his arms and legs, the latter still outside the window. Jet does just that, and as Cayde leaps in, he’s already speeding off. “Police. My Dad. Go.”

        “Right.” Jet reaches over to pull him in the rest of the way. Cayde buckles himself slowly through the pain and sits back in the seat. “Are you alright? That didn’t look good from where I was.”


        “Yea. I’ll be fine.” Cayde groans as he shifts himself a bit. “Fucking hurt though. I don’t think they were trying to rob us.”


        “What do you mean?” Jet asks trying to keep from taking turns to roughly for Cayde’s sake.

        “No bags. No weapons. Just rope. And a rag.” Cayde pants, taking a pause trying to settle himself. “I think it was a kidnapping attempt.” Cayde looks around, grabs Jet’s cell phone, and dials his father’s personal number.


        “Hello, Winston Styx’s Cell.” His partner’s voice sounds from the other end.

        “Felicia. Is Dad there? Something happened.” Cayde asks.

        “Cayde? Yes. Let me put it on speaker.” The female says calmly.


“Dad. People were at the house.” Cayde explains briefly.


“What? Are you alright? Where are you?” His father’s voice came through, a bit of worry set in.


        “I’m fine, and with Jet, we’re heading to the station.”

        “We're a bit out of the way, but we’ll be there within the hour. Go in, and tell Patty what happened.” The older puma states.


        “I can do that. I also don’t have my phone on me, so call Jet if you need anything.”


        “OK. Be careful son.” Winston finishes.


        “I’m only ending this call, when you get to the station, OK Cayde.” Felicia says softly as squealing can be heard in the background. “With everything that has been going on in the past month, I’m not taking any chances.”

        “We just turned onto the street now.” Cayde says looking out the window. “We’ll be there in a few minutes. Hopefully Dad isn’t breaking any driving laws.”

        “I’m sure you know his driving habits by now, Hun.” 


        “My driving is just fine for my line of work. Is this really the time to complain, Felicia?” Winston retorts somewhat frustrated.


        Both Cayde and Felica give a small giggle. As Jet pulls into the parking lot. “Sounds like your driver and mine are one in the same.” She teases hearing the car hit the rather large bump at the entrance to the lot. “We’ll be there in about thirty, no more like twenty minutes.” She takes a second then pulls the phone from her ear. “I know you're worried about him, but he’s with his friend, and they just pulled into the parking lot. They’re alright.” The red panda assures, placing the cell phone back into the center cup holder.


        “I know.” winston exhales. “I know. Let's just get there, and see what's going on.”